Arbroath Abbey Kirkyard

Arbroath Abbey Kirkyard, Scotland

Visited August 2011

Right beside Arbroath Abbey, within its grounds, is Arbroath Abbey kirkyard, containing over 1400 stones. In the past this kirkyard has been ruthlessly tidied and straightened. There are lots of stones mentioning those lost at sea, or seamen who died abroad, a reminder that Arbroath is perhaps most famous (after the Declaration of Arbroath, of course*) for its fish, Arbroath Smokies in particular.  most stones date from the Victorian period, but a few are older.

If you really only want to visit the kirkyard, you can go via the Visitor Centre, persuade them of your intention not to visit the ruins, and you should get in free. But be spotted straying towards the Abbey and you may be thrown out! 

* The Declaration was signed at the Abbey in 1320 by various Scottish earls and barons, supporting Robert the Bruce and asserting Scottish independence. The most quoted passage is of course "...for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom – for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself."

Lycian tombs, Turkey

Lycian Tombs, Turkey

visited September 2009

Ancient Lycia was a region in ancient Anatolia which is now in Southern Turkey. It became part of the Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BCE, and was later part of the Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great. 

The tombs left behind are quite spendid. The earliest are the tower tombs, with sarcophagi on top of a rock tower. The one below was in the middle of a town (Kas, ancient Antiphellos), and remarkably well preserved - no grafitti at all!

There are also rock cut Lycian tombs, which are a little later in date, and bring to mind the Nabatean rock cut tombs of Jordan - they really are like a mini Petra. The ones I saw, at Dalyan, were only seen from a boat due to time restraints, and a lot are hard to access. But if you have time, then I'm told there are some splendid rock cut tombs to be explored throughout the area.

An early pillar tomb, Kas

Back of the same pillar tomb

A rock cut tomb

Lycian tombs cut into the rock at Dalyan

Lycian tombs cut into the rock at Dalyan

Arran, Scotland

Various sites on the island of Arran, Scotland.

Visited September 2013

In September 2013 I spent a week on Arran, and was able to visit four  burial sites - the remains of a Bronze Age cairn on Machrie Moor (along with some amazing standing stones), the churchyard at Lochranza, the village cemetery at Brodick and a private cemetery for the Hamilton family of Brodick Castle

Bronze Age cairn, Machrie Moor

Hamilton family cemetery, Brodick

Brodick Cemetery

Brodick Cemetery

Lochranza Church of Scotland graveyard